Page Introduction
Welcome to the Birth of Newborn Screening online exhibit. Here you will find a feature highlighting the work of Dr. Robert Guthrie, also known as the “Father of Prevention.” This exhibit contains information on “The Guthrie Test,” The Campaign for Newborn Screening, A Personal Look, Western New York Connections, Awards Received, as well as additional resources.
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Intro
Dr. Robert Guthrie (1916-1995) is acknowledged worldwide as the Father of Prevention. His simple, inexpensive test to detect PKU (phenylketonuria) nurtured the entire field of newborn screening. PKU, which affects about one in 11,000 babies born in the United States, is a genetic disorder that leaves newborns unable to metabolize an essential amino acid. The acid builds to a toxic level and causes brain damage. The screening test, developed by 1961, allows doctors to treat the problem before irreversible damage occurs, thus preventing mental retardation. In his lifetime, Dr. Guthrie was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize. At the AAMR conference in May 1999 he was named one of the 36 Greatest Contributors to the Field of Mental Retardation in the past century!
The Birth of Newborn Screening is also a traveling collection on display at various Western New York locations. For more information on bringing the exhibit to your area, contact us.